Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: West Yorkshire

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on house prices in West Yorkshire.

Gavin Barwell: It is too early to tell. We are keeping markets under review and are actively engaged with house builders. The Secretary of State met with leading industry representatives this week to hear their views.The strong demand for housing which underpins the housing market continues – as does our commitment to getting them built at a rate that can achieve our ambition for a million more homes and a million more home owners by 2020.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: West Bank

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK's policy on the Middle East of recent demolitions by Israel of Palestinian homes and other structures in the West Bank.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK position on demolitions is clear: demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; are harmful to the peace process; and are, in all but the most exceptional of cases, contrary to international humanitarian law. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have raised our opposition to demolitions with the Israeli authorities repeatedly, most recently on 12 July, and urged them to provide a legal route for Palestinian construction. I also made our position clear at Oral Questions in the House on 12 July.

COE Commissioner for Human Rights

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in response to his Memorandum on surveillance and oversight mechanisms in the United Kingdom, published in May 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Following his visit to the United Kingdom from 17 – 22 January, Commissioner Muižnieks published his “Memorandum on surveillance and oversight mechanisms in the United Kingdom” on 17 May. The same day Her Majesty’s Government formally responded, detailing the necessity of surveillance powers and the ways in which the Government has bought world-leading oversight and transparency to these powers. The Government’s full response, which runs to 27 pages, can be found on the Commissioner's website here: http://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/country-report/united-kingdom

Department for Education

Apprentices

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the maximum duration is of an apprenticeship.

Robert Halfon: To ensure that apprenticeships are focused on providing sustained and substantial training, they must last for at least 12 months. We do not set a maximum duration centrally, but apprenticeships generally take between one and four years to complete.The suggested duration of each apprenticeship is set by employers when designing the apprenticeship standard.

Further Education: Liverpool City Region

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the end of year budget surplus or deficit was for each further education college in the Liverpool City Region in each financial year since 2010-11.

Robert Halfon: Colleges own this information. They are required to publish the information on their own website and the Skills Funding Agency publish a collated picture on GOV.UK. All the information requested for this question is already in the public domain: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-financial-management-college-accounts

Apprentices: Hearing Impaired

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many deaf young people aged 16 to 24 achieved (a) intermediate, (b) advanced and (c) higher apprenticeships in 2014-15; and what their destinations were following apprenticeship completion.

Robert Halfon: Information on apprenticeship achievements is published as part of a Statistical First Release, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-heldTable 1 shows apprenticeship achievements by 16-24 year olds with hearing impairments in 2014/15, by level.Table 1: Apprenticeship Achievements by 16-24 year old learners with hearing impairmentsLevel2014/15  Intermediate Level Apprenticeships250  Advanced Level Apprenticeships130  Higher Apprenticeships-  All Apprenticeships380  Notes:   1) Data source is the Individualised Learner Record.2) Volumes are rounded to the nearest ten. "-" indicates a base value of less than 5.3) Learners with hearing impairments figures are based upon self-declaration by the learner, where the provider has indicated that they have a disability, learning difficulty or health problem.Information on the destinations of learners to this level of detail is not centrally collected.

Home Office

Vetting

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received representations from the police on increasing resources related to criminal record check disclosure requests.

Sarah Newton: The Disclosure and Barring service works directly with each police force to agree a budget annually based on the expected numbers of local checks and considers any requests for additional resources as part of these discussions.In 2015/16 the Disclosure and Barring Service had a target of processing 85% of all applications within 21 days. Some of the over four million applications received each year need to be referred to one or more police forces for further checks and the Disclosure and Barring Service funds Police disclosure units.

Vetting

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what targets her Department has in place to ensure criminal records check disclosures are processed efficiently.

Sarah Newton: The Disclosure and Barring service works directly with each police force to agree a budget annually based on the expected numbers of local checks and considers any requests for additional resources as part of these discussions.In 2015/16 the Disclosure and Barring Service had a target of processing 85% of all applications within 21 days. Some of the over four million applications received each year need to be referred to one or more police forces for further checks and the Disclosure and Barring Service funds Police disclosure units.

Department for Exiting the European Union

UK Withdrawal from EU

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 July 2016, Machinery of Government Changes, HCWS94, who the interested parties are that the Government plans to consult on the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government has been consulting, and will continue to consult, with a broad range of stakeholders on the implications of the referendum result. These will include the UK Parliament, devolved administrations, Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies, businesses, and other interest groups.

UK Withdrawal from EU

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what process his Department plans to use to recruit negotiators for the forthcoming negotiations on the UK exit from the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The new Department for Exiting the European Union is equipping itself to oversee negotiations to leave the EU and establish the future relationship between the UK and EU. The overall size and scope of the new department, including staffing and budget, are now under consideration.

Free Movement of People

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the economic benefits of maintaining freedom of movement between the UK and the EU.

Mr David Davis: Our economy is fundamentally strong, and the UK is open to business and investment. We will need to consider all factors carefully in implementing the decision of the British people.

UK Withdrawal from EU: Costs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether his Department has made an estimate of the total cost to the public purse of negotiations for leaving the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Davis: The new Department for Exiting the European Union is equipping itself to oversee negotiations to leave the EU and establish the future relationship between the UK and EU. The overall size and scope of the new department, including staffing and budget, are under consideration.

Renewable Energy

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will ensure full access to the EU single market for the renewable energy industry following UK withdrawal from the EU.

Mr David Davis: The Government has been engaging with key energy stakeholders, including investors in the renewable energy sector, to make it clear that we are open for business. We will want the strongest possible economic links with our European neighbours. The UK remains an attractive environment for investors in energy.

UK Withdrawal from EU: Scotland

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has to engage with Scottish businesses and civic society on the negotiations to exit the EU.

Mr David Davis: The Government will fully involve all parts of the UK, including Scotland, as we prepare for negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU. We are working towards securing the best possible deal for the whole UK, and to achieve this we will work closely with businesses and other interest groups.

Parliament

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his policy is on the role Parliament will have in negotiations related to the UK leaving the EU.

Mr David Davis: The Department for Exiting the EU will work closely with Parliament on what the approach to negotiations should be. While legally there is no obligation to consult Parliament on triggering Article 50, it will clearly have an important role in making sure that we find the best way forward.

Devolution

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with Ministers from the devolved administrations since he took office.

Mr David Davis: The Government will fully involve the devolved administrations, including Scotland, as we prepare for negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU. We are working towards securing the best possible deal for the whole UK, and we will work closely with colleagues in the devolved administrations. Details of Ministerial meetings will be published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which will be made publicly available on GOV.UK.

Political Parties

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has to consult opposition parties on the process of negotiating the UK exit from the EU; and what plans he has to consult those parties during those negotiations.

Mr David Davis: The Department for Exiting the EU will lead the UK’s negotiations to leave the European Union and establish the future relationship between the EU and the UK, working closely with the UK Parliament, devolved administrations, and a wide range of other interested parties. Consultation with opposition parties will be an important part of this process.

Digital Technology

Calum Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will ensure the UK's participation in the Digital Single Market during negotiations for UK withdrawal from the EU.

Mr David Davis: While the UK remains a member of the EU it will continue to play an active role in the development of the Digital Single Market.

Drugs: Innovation

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his policy is on future UK involvement in the Innovative Medicines Initiative.

Mr David Davis: The Innovative Medicines Initiative is a joint undertaking between the European Union and the pharmaceutical industry association EFPIA to boost biomedical innovation. The UK remains a member of the EU until our withdrawal is completed. UK researchers can still apply for Horizon 2020 projects. Future involvement will need to be agreed in forthcoming negotiations.

ERASMUS

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will make it his policy to ensure that (a) UK students can continue to participate in the Erasmus programme and (b) UK universities can continue to participate in cross-European research projects.

Mr David Davis: The UK remains a member of the EU until our withdrawal is completed. There is no immediate change to the rights of UK universities and their students and staff from EU countries. UK researchers can still apply for Horizon 2020 projects. There is no change to those currently participating in, or about to start, Erasmus+ exchanges and Marie Curie fellowships.

Foreign Relations

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with UK universities on their views on the UK's future engagement with the EU.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what meetings he has had with (a) businesses, (b) trade unions and (c) trade bodies on the UK's future engagement with the EU.

Mr David Davis: As we prepare for negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU, the Government will continue to consult with a broad range of stakeholders in order to secure the best possible deal for the whole UK. Details of Ministerial meetings will be published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which will be made publicly available on GOV.UK.

EU Budget

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when he plans that the UK will cease contributing towards the funding of the EU.

Mr David Davis: The UK will remain a full member of the EU, with all of the rights and obligations, until it leaves. As we establish a UK approach and objectives for negotiations on the UK’s exit, a range of decisions will be made, including on funding.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, by what process the Government plans to recruit trade negotiators; and how many trade negotiators the Government plans to recruit.

Mark Garnier: My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and take advantage of huge opportunities. We are beginning the process of recruiting trade negotiators in anticipation of the period of leading up to exiting the European Union after the completion of Article 50 negotiations. We are building our trade policy capability over this period and the process of recruiting staff is underway.